Automotive air intake system

ABSTRACT

An automotive air intake system for sealing against a hood having a shear closure movement. A striker assembly having a rigid striker plate and a flexible conduit attaches to the interior of the hood. A stationary air cleaner plate having a planar sealing surface surrounds an air cleaner opening. The striker plate strikes the air cleaner plate and compresses the conduit when the hood is moved to a partially closed position. The bellows opening mates with the air cleaner opening when the hood is moved to a closed position.

RELATED APPLICATION

This invention is related to "AUTOMOTIVE AIR INTAKE ASSEMBLY" attorneydocket no. 93-710-1, filed on the same date as the present applicationand incorporated herein by reference.

RELATED APPLICATION

This invention is related to "AUTOMOTIVE AIR INTAKE ASSEMBLY" attorneydocket no. 93-710-1, filed on the same date as the present applicationand incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention provides for an automotive air intake system having ashear closing movement. More particularly, the invention relates to anautomotive air intake system for use with air inlets on a pivotalvertical surface.

2. Description of the Related Art

Automotive vehicles, in particular heavy duty trucks, feature a forwardtilting, pivotally mounted hood to provide access to the enginecompartment. A useful feature for forward tilting hoods is a sidemounted fresh air inlet for the air cleaner. Side mounted inlets aregenerally exposed to cleaner air than front facing or bottom facing airinlets.

Heretofore, it has been difficult to seal the interface between thepivotally moving hood and the stationary air cleaner inlet. Flexibleboots have been attached to the air cleaner inlet to seal against theinterior surface of the hood. As the hood closes, the boot is partiallydeflected by the hood air inlet. With age and use, the boot may becomedeformed and have gaps around its perimeter. Under-hood air may enterthe air intake system through the gaps and reduce the efficiency of theengine.

The prior art collapsible designs have not provided the desireddurability and sealing properties when used with hoods having a shearclosing movement. The elastomeric rubbers used for the flexible bootabrade against the hard interior hood surface. The resiliency of therubber and the closing forces do not uniformly compress the boot. Henceits sealing properties change with temperature. Vibration causes arelative movement between the hood and air cleaner. Boots do not providesufficient elongation and compression to maintain a seal between thehood and air cleaner when the vehicle experiences heavy vibrations.

The present invention is designed to provide a long-life sealinginterface for hoods having a shear closing movement. A rigid plasticinterface between the air cleaner and hood withstands repeated closuresand a flexible elastomeric conduit provides resilient biasing and longertravel to maintain a seal during rough road operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an automotive air intake systemcomprising a moveable hood having a shear closing movement and a strikerassembly having a rigid striker plate and a flexible conduit. Theconduit has a conduit opening that secures the striker plate to thehood. A stationery air cleaner plate having a planar sealing surfacesurrounds an air cleaner opening. The striker plate strikes the aircleaner plate and compresses the conduit when the hood is moved to apartially closed position. The conduit opening mates with the aircleaner opening when the hood is moved to a totally closed position.

The invention provides for a sealing surface specifically intended forhoods having a total or partial shear closing movement. The addition ofan annular seal secured to the conduit and positioned between thestriker plate and air cleaner plate provides additional sealing. Abeveled surface of the striker plate positions the striker plate in amating configuration with the air cleaner inlet.

The present invention relates to an automotive air intake assemblycomprising a rigid striker plate having an annular planar portion and abeveled portion surrounding the planar portion. The planar portion hasfirst and second surfaces and a plurality of apertures therethrough. Thefirst surface mates with an air cleaner. Members on the second surfacebisect the apertures and form an attaching surface. An elastomericconduit is integrally molded about the attaching surface to permanentlyfasten the conduit to the striker plate.

The apertures may be arranged annularly around the planar surface of thestriker plate and the members form a continuous ring bisecting theapertures. Two or more concentric rows of apertures in concentric ringsprovide additional retention for large diameter air inlets. U-shapedmembers on the conduit mate with the apertures and encircle theconcentric rings through the apertures. The invention provides for alow-cost attaching mechanism that does not use add-on fasteners oradhesives between the conduit and striker plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle having a pivotal hood with a shear closingmovement in the open position.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of the interior portion of thevehicle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an air cleaner plate.

FIG. 4 is a side view partially broken away, of an air cleaner systemwith the hood in the closed position.

FIG. 5 is an interior plan view of the striker assembly.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the area marked 6 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the interior surface of the striker plate.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the striker plate shown in FIG. 7 takenalong the line 8--8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Illustrated in FIG. 1, is a perspective view of a vehicle having aside-mounted fresh air inlet 10. Ambient air enters inlet 10 and passesthrough the generally vertical portion of hood 12. Hood 12 is hinged toprovide a pivotal closing movement. Vertically mounted air inlet 10mates with air cleaner 14 when the hood is moved to a closed position.Air cleaner plate 16 provides a planar sealing surface for air cleaner14. Located within air cleaner 14 is a pleated air filter (not shown) asis well known in the art.

Illustrated in FIG. 2 is the interior surface of hood 12. Air inlet 10receives striker assembly 18. Striker assembly 18 comprises a pleatedbellows 20, screen 22, and striker plate 24. Bellows 20 provides aconduit between air intake 10 and striker plate 24. As will be morefully discussed below, bellows 20 is integrally molded to striker plate24.

Striker plate 24 strikes air cleaner plate 16 and compresses bellows 20when hood 12 is moved to a partially closed position. Striker assembly18 mates with air cleaner plate 16 and provides for the flow of airthrough to air cleaner 14.

Illustrated in FIG. 3 is a plan view of air cleaner plate 16. Aircleaner plate 16 has a planar sealing surface 26 and an air cleaneropening 28. Opening 28 is sized to be greater than or equal to the airfilter area (not shown) within the air cleaner. A rounded edge 30receives the striking force from striker plate 24. Air cleaner plate 16may be made from a metal or plastic material. Particularly preferred areplastic materials including nylon 6 which is capable of withstanding thestriking forces from repeated closures. Wing nut 32 secures air cleanerplate 16 to air cleaner 14.

FIGS. 4-5 illustrate striker assembly 18 mating with air cleaner 14 whenthe hood is moved to a totally closed position. Air cleaner plate 16 isangled to illustrate a hood closure having a combination shear andcompression closing movement. A shear closing movement as used hereinoccurs when two planar surfaces are brought together in parallel planes.If one surface is stationary, then the other surface moves within asingle plane to overly the stationary surface. This illustrates a systemhaving a 100 percent shear closing movement. A compression closuremovement as used herein occurs when planar surfaces are brought togetherperpendicular to one another. If one surface is stationary, then theother surface moves through multiple planes while always remainingparallel to the stationary surface. This illustrates a 100 percentcompression closure movement. Automotive closure systems generallycomprise a combination shear and compression closure movement. Theclosure movement illustrated in FIG. 4 is generally vertical with mostlyshear closing movement.

Annular seal 34, about one end of bellows 20, provides a sealinginterface between air cleaner plate 16 and bellows 20. Annular seal 34lies concentric within striker plate 24. Seal 34 and the pleatedcross-section of bellows 20 provide resilient biasing between hood 12and air cleaner plate 16. Seal 34 continuously engages the planarsealing surface of air cleaner plate 16 in normal vehicle operation.Relative movement between hood 12 and air cleaner plate 16 is absorbedwithin bellows 20. A small amount of lateral movement between strikerassembly 18 and air cleaner plate 16 is permitted while maintaining anear air-tight seal.

Screen 22 is secured within bellows 20 to prevent large debris fromentering air cleaner opening 28. A metal lip 36, around screen 22provides an attaching surface for fastening striker assembly 18 to hood12 by means of barbed fasteners 38.

Bellows 20 is integrally molded with striker plate 24 in a processcalled insert molding. Striker plate 24 and bellows 20 are shown inFIGS. 6, 7 and 8. Striker plate 24 is injection molded in the form of anannular ring made from a nylon 6 material. Striker plate 24 has a planarsurface 40 and a bevelled surface 42. Beveled surface 42 strikes theround edge of the air cleaner plate when the hood is moved to apartially closed position. Apertures 44 are arranged in two concentricrows around planar surface 40. Inner surface 46 includes two concentricrings 48, 50 that overly and bisect apertures 44. As used herein, bisectmeans that rings 48, 50, overly apertures 44 in a manner that a portionof the aperture is visible on either side of rings 48, 50. Attachingsurface 52 on rings 48, 50 provide a mechanical attachment surface forbellows 20.

Striker plate 24 is placed within a molding apparatus and an elastomericmaterial such as EDPM rubber is injected within the apparatus to formbellows 20. The EDPM rubber has a durometer rating of approximately 60.EDPM rubber and other types of elastic materials do not adhere to thestriker material. Therefore, the invention provides for a mechanicalinterlock between bellows 20 and striker plate 24. Projections 54 areformed within apertures 44. The projections have a U-shapedcross-section. The projections encircle a portion of rings 48, 50 thatbisect apertures 44. Projections 54 generally do not extend beyondplanar surface 40. Projections 54 permanently secure bellows 20 toattaching surface 52. During the molding process, the pleated portionsof bellows 20 and annular seal 34 are simultaneously and integrallyformed.

3. Method of Operation

The present invention is intended to be adaptable for use with existingvehicles. The assembly and method of operation are illustrated in FIG.1-4. Striker assembly 18 attaches to the interior surface of hood 12using existing mounting holes. Air cleaner plate 16 fastens to aircleaner 14 using wing nut fastener 32. When the hood moves from an openposition to a partially closed position, beveled surface 42 strikes edge30 and causes bellows 20 to compress. Striker plate 24 aligns generallyparallel with air cleaner plate 16. The hard plastic surfaces of beveledsurface 42, planar surface 40, edge 30, and planar sealing surface 26withstand the repeated opening and closings of hood 12. When the hood ismoved to a totally closed position, annular seal 34 contacts sealingsurface 36 and forms a sealing surface. Vibrations, shake or movement ofhood 12 with respect to air cleaner 14 are absorbed through thecompression and elongation of bellows 20. Bellows 20 resiliently biasesstriker plate 24 in mating engagement with planar sealing surface 26.

The present invention has been illustrated using a hood having a largeshear closing movement. The invention is useful for closures having atotal shear, partial shear, or slight shear closing movement. Theinvention provides an all weather, long-lasting and reliable sealingsystems for hoods having a shear closure movement. Other advantages areinherent in the preferred embodiment described above.

The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of theinvention. Modifications, changes and alterations of the presentinvention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An automotive air intake system comprising:a moveable and pivotally mounted hood having a shear closing movement; a striker assembly vertically mounted to said hood and having a rigid striker plate and a flexible conduit, said conduit having a conduit opening and securing said striker plate to said hood; and a stationary air cleaner plate having a planar sealing surface surrounding an air cleaner opening, the shear movement is between said striker assembly and said stationary air cleaner plate when said hood is moved to one of a closed and an open position, said striker plate striking said air cleaner plate and compressing said conduit when said hood is moved to a partially closed position and said conduit opening mating with said air cleaner opening when said hood is moved said closed position.
 2. The air intake system of claim 1, where in said pivoting movement is vertical.
 3. The air intake system of claim 1, said striker assembly further comprising an annular seal secured to said conduit and positioned between said striker plate and said air cleaner plate when said hood in said closed position.
 4. The air intake system of claim 1, said striker plate further comprising a beveled surface striking said air cleaner plate when said hood is moved to said partially closed position.
 5. The air intake system of claim 1, wherein said conduit comprises a bellows having a pleated cross-section.
 6. An automotive air intake system comprising:A pivotally mounted hood having a shear closing movement; a striker assembly vertically mounted to said hood and having a rigid annular striker plate and a bellows; a striker plate having a planar first surface, a second surface and a beveled surface, said bellows being secured between said second surface and said hood and biasing said striker plate away from said hood; an annular seal secured to said bellows and defining a bellows opening, said seal concentric within an opening of said annular striker plate and extending a distance beyond said first surface; and a stationary air cleaner plate communicating with an air filter and having a planar sealing surface surrounding an air cleaner opening, the shear movement is between said striker assembly and said stationary air cleaner plate when said hood is moved to one of a closed one an open position, said beveled surface striking said air cleaner plate and compressing said bellows when said hood is moved to a partially closed position and said bellows opening mating with said air cleaner opening, and said annular seal sealing against said air cleaner plate when said hood is moved to said closed position.
 7. An automotive air intake system comprising:a pivotally mounted hood having a combination shear and compression closing movement; a striker assembly vertically mounted to said hood and having a rigid annular striker plate, a pleated bellows and a screen secured therein; a striker plate having a planar first surface, a second surface and a beveled surface, said bellows being secured between said second surface and said hood and biasing said striker plate away from said hood; an annular seal secured to said bellows and defining a bellows opening, said seal concentric within an opening of said annular striker plate and extending a distance beyond said first surface; and a stationary air cleaner plate communicating with an air filter and having a planar sealing surface surrounding an air cleaner opening, the shear movement is between said striker assembly and said stationary air cleaner plate when said hood is moved to one a closed and an open position, said beveled surface striking said air cleaner plate and compressing said bellows when said hood is moved to a partially closed position, and said bellows opening mating with said air cleaner opening and said annular seal sealing against said air cleaner plate when said hood is moved to said closed position. 